SPEAKING VOLUMES

Could you please begin by briefly introducing yourself and your journey into becoming an artist?

Patrick: My name is Patrick van Riemsdijk, born in Utrecht (NL) in 1986 and I currently live in Amsterdam, NL. This is also the base of my main atelier where I create most of my artworks. I have spent my entire life immersed in visual arts and I have always created whatever I love. It gives me so much peace, doing my own thing in my own space or energy and time. I get my inspiration from many different things, small or big, and I am using this inspiration in my work. Every stroke of the brush, the colours, and materials are carefully selected and are very personal, it is me on a canvas. And with me being able to paint whatever I want is the highest form of freedom.

As you have mentioned, both of your parents are artists. How has your family or upbringing influenced you and how do you approach your craft?

P: My parents (both indeed artists) were really open-minded and supportive. I could be whoever I wanted to be, there was no good or wrong, and as long as I was happy they were too. Besides this, they also performed and worked on their own art at home. My dad, for example, had his own easel which was usually placed right in the centre of the house and he occasionally smoked a joint while working on it. Being a child, I sometimes wished they would have a “normal” job, like other parents, but now that I am getting older I realise more and more the importance of doing something you really love without limitations or societal pressure. He truly loves what I do and he is definitely one of my biggest ‘fans’.

Can you tell us more about the process of making your work? Do you have an essential philosophy that guides you in your creative expression?

P: I do not have a strict routine and for me, it is important to FEEL instead of PLAN. This work can only be done if you truly feel what you are doing, instead of being forced into production. Whenever I am in my atelier I love to create my own little bubble with some meditation, music, and a nice smell (big fan of Palo Santo). It is a bright space, very light with high windows, and whenever the sun is shining it sometimes truly gives me some kind of magical feeling that makes me forget everything around me.

What do you want people to do or feel when they encounter your work?

P: There are no rules in this, everyone should be totally free in their own feelings and expressions. I always advise people to really observe the piece, to sometimes sit in front of it without talking. Let your mind flow, feel, be inspired, or moved in your own way. We are all different and the artwork could have different meanings for everyone. Sometimes people have the biggest fantasies while encountering the artwork, I truly love this and I get touched every time whenever the piece and person are a match. It is so special, that words cannot really describe it.

How do you title your artworks? Do words serve as a pathway into the feeling and energy you were looking to capture?

P: This happens while creating the artwork, sometimes I cannot even put it into a single word so then I use sentences. I have called my final artwork “Masterpiece” since this piece felt like a personal victory. It is my biggest piece so far, where I had to use different techniques to cover the full canvas. When it was finished I sat down in a chair, looked at it for a couple of hours, and felt so proud and satisfied, I knew I had to call it “Masterpiece”.Sometimes the artwork is so personal that I could find it hard to sell, so therefore I always like to know and connect with the people who are buying it. And whenever there is the right match, it feels safe and good to say goodbye.

The environments that we surround ourselves with can influence our process of creation. In your biography, you talked about the need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to create. Can you share with us what your ideal working conditions are and what your studio space is like?

P: The environment and space around me are indeed very important for the creation process. It brings me in the right state of mind and it could really affect my mood. I do however love to have some kind of balance in it, and I always alternate the rush of the city with nature or the beach. My atelier is, for example, in the middle of the city center of Amsterdam, and I am going there by bike. The vibe of the city could really be uplifting, but on other days it may feel too tense. On those days I prefer to go to the beach instead with our dog Ivy to calm my mind and observe all the prettiness nature has to offer us Ivy to calm my mind and observe all the prettiness nature has to offer us.

What are some of the challenges and blessings of working alone?

P: I actually really like to be by myself and to work alone in my own space. I do find it really cosy and comforting to bring along my dog Ivy, and whenever I feel I need personal connection I schedule nice gatherings with friends, neighbours or my girlfriend. In my time alone I really got to know myself better and I discovered how to keep on motivating and educating myself. Of course, there will always be difficulties and bad days, but this will eventually also bring you further and give you new insights.

What are your inspirational sources?

P: This might sound crazy, but actually everything that happens around me is some kind of inspiration source. Especially when multiple senses are triggered at the same time it could create sparkles in my brain!

Do you have an exciting event or project coming up?

P: There are many exciting things ahead, but one of them is my solo exhibition in Amsterdam which I am very much looking forward to.

Learn More

Patrick van Riemsdijk Website  ↗ 

Patrick van Riemsdijk Instagram  ↗

Patrick van Riemsdijk is an Amsterdam-based artist with a background full immersed in visual arts. Emotive and unexpected, Patrick seeks to capture a feeling and energy through his paintings.